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  • Oke Ogun APC leaders back Tinubu for second term

    Oke Ogun APC leaders back Tinubu for second term

    All  Progressives Congress (APC) stakeholders  in Iseyin, Itesiwaju, Kajola and Iwajowa federal constituency, Oke Ogun, Oyo State, have endorsed President  Bola Tinubu, for a second term ahead of the 2027 general election.

    The decision was taken on Tuesday at a meeting, presided over byformer Deputy Governor Iyiola Oladokun at Ado Awaye, in Iseyin local  government. 

    The party leaders also commended President  Tinubu for the establishment of Federal  University, Okeho, after many years of neglect of Oke Ogun by past federal administrations. 

    They said: “We are grateful to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the University, the first federal  institution in the entire ten local governments in Oke Ogun.

    “We have endorsed him for second term because his progressive  stance in developing  all parts of Nigeria, simultaneously, including  Oke Ogun,  a land that past governments have forgotten.”

    They also commented the efforts of Professor Segun Gbadegesin, Senator Fatai Buhari, and  Barrister  Ahmed Raji, for their contributions towards the establishment of Federal University,  Okeho.

    According to the leaders, Tinubu  deserved a re-election for, in less less than two years, having taken steps to offset foreign loans, stabilise the economy, strengthen the Naira, increase states and local governments  allocations, curbed herders salvaging off farmlands, killing of farmers and raping of their female family members, as well as his war against  kidnappings and insurgency. 

    The APC chieftains appealed to  saboteurs and sponsors of insurgencies to consider the overall interests of Nigeria as a sovereign nation and allow President Tinubu to perform. 

    They also commended the spate of mass defection of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) supporters to the APC in the ten local governments of Oke Ogun, in recognition of  President Tinubu’s performance. 

    Meanwhile, the APC chieftains urged all  Nigerians to support President Tinubu for the second term and vowed to take the campaign for  President Tinubu’s re-election to a larger meeting of the party, scheduled for Igboho in Oke Ogun on June 30 this year. 

    The meeting, which will also be preceded by the former Deputy Governor, Chief Iyiola Oladokun is to be attended by stakeholders from the 10 local governments in Oke Ogun., including; party chairmen and secretaries, women leaders, youth leaders, serving and former federal and state lawmakers, pasts Chief of Staff, heads ofservice, Commissioners, Chairmen of  boards parastatals, past and present APC officers and past local government chairmen and secretaries.

  • Afenifere hails Tinubu’s road infrastructure

    Afenifere hails Tinubu’s road infrastructure

    • ‘Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway will improve business’

    The Pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, has hailed President Bola Tinubu  administration’s commitment to implementing several

    Infrastructure and roads that have a direct impact on the people.

    The group said that the Lagos -Calabar Coastal Highway initiated by President Tinubu is a monumental project that would ensure not only connectivity but also a new era of infrastructural development in the Niger Delta.

    Speaking to reporters at the Akure Airport, Ondo State yesterday, its General Secretary , Sola Ebiseni, appreciated the president  for taking a bold step in beginning the first phase of the  project.

    “I personally notice some monumental initiatives, particularly in the area of road infrastructural development. Take the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, for instance.

    “We have archival records that the road was proposed around 1900 when the Ilaje coastal territory of the present Ondo State was still part of Lagos Colony. There was already a telegraphic line which connected Lagos through Ilaje to Warri along the Atlantic corridor.

    “The road was designed in alignment with the telegraphic route to link Lagos Colony with the Southern Protectorate which headquarters was then incidentally at Calabar,” he said.

     Ebeseeni recalled that an agreement to link the road was reached in 1900 when Sir William Macgregor, Governor of Lagos Colony, was on tour of  Ilaje, the eastern boundary of the colony up to around the Benin River in Warri Division.

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    “The document was later signed on the 12th January 1904 between Sir  Macgregor  and Sir Wyndham Roseberry of Southern Protectorate.

    “President Tinubu has taken such a bold step in launching this historic road project which, if faithfully implemented, would be the most monumental, particularly in the Niger Delta.”

    He urged President Tinubu to allow the road  to follow the coastline of Ilaje in Ondo State aside from the coastal route of Lagos.

    On the crisis rocking the group,  Ebeseeni said the two factions of the late Ayo Adebanjo and Pa Reuben Fasoranti have what it takes to come together.

    According to him, Afenifere is a welfarist socio-political organisation with an ideological stance that had been maintained since 1951 with an unambiguous position on national issues.

    “At critical times in our national life in the Action Group, UPN, SDP/NADECO, AD, AD/APP and presently, there has been contestations on ideological ground which has always been resolved according to Awolowo on the interplay of thesis and antithesis.

    “The current disagreement is not so deep in my view. It is between strict adherence to its historical socio-political character of Awolowo political world view and the new romance with being a Yoruba socio-cultural organisation of all-comers.

    “No viable organisation, including political parties, is spared the bug of centrifugal forces today in our country. The new leader has what it takes to navigate the mines and bring all together,” Ebiseeni said.

  • Tinubu Administration at mid-term (2): The security question

    Tinubu Administration at mid-term (2): The security question

    Given the bitter fallout that trailed the 2023 general elections, dispassionate assessments of what’s been achieved in the first two years of President Bola Tinubu’s administration are rare. Admirers, predictably, go into overdrive in gushing praise, while critics swear Nigeria is back in the stone ages. The truth lies somewhere in between.

    What is clear is that significant progress has been made at the macroeconomic level, with much expectation that these improvements would quickly manifest at microeconomic level. The masses of the people often grade success by things they can relate to – prices of staples, cost of transportation, cost of utilities etc.

    The messaging has been that after initial challenges, the economy is on the mend. The same cannot be said about insecurity – an area in which the administration has been locked in mortal combat. It’s been a mixed bag of good news one day, very bad reports the next. It’s the reason why President Tinubu who was originally scheduled to be in Kaduna State today, has made a detour to Benue on a condolence visit of sorts.

    While hitherto volatile areas like Southern Kaduna have witnessed a recession in killings, and swaggering bandits in the Northwest look like they are in retreat, bloodletting in the North-Central resurfaced with a vengeance to blight the modest feel-good factor around the second anniversary.

    Early in April, an attack by anonymous gunmen on six villages in the Bokkos area of Plateau State left 52 people dead and over 2,000 displaced. This incident recalls one in this same district in December 2023 that produced 100 fatalities.  

    Barely, two weeks after the May 29 festivities and a couple of days following the June 12 democracy celebrations, another bloody excursion by a band of killers claimed over 150 lives in Yelwata community, Guma Local Government Area of Benue State. Both incidents are believed to have been perpetrated by herders in their unending battles with farmers in the zone.

    It is easy to blame the incumbent administration for not stamping out the carnage with a flick of its fingers, yet the reality is there’s something deeper going on that would take more than a presidential order to address. It’s a problem that was there before the onset of the Fourth Republic and has resisted the largely ad-hoc solutions thrown at it over time.

    It is estimated that over the last three decades, more than 4,500 lives have been lost in Plateau State in unrelenting violence between ethnic groups. I don’t have the death toll for Benue State over the same period, but suspect they mirror those of its next door neighbour.

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    Along with the Boko Haram insurgency in the Northeast, the farmer-herder conflict in the Middle Belt helped to cement the image of incompetence that enveloped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) administration headed by Goodluck Jonathan.

    It was a headache that the first All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari, made one of three pillars of the 2014/2015 campaign platform. By the time he was leaving office, insecurity was back as a cornerstone of the 2022/2023 campaigns.

    In the final year of Buhari’s tenure, there were headline-grabbing incidents that showed his administration had only taken one step forward and two backwards. For instance, on 28 March, 2022, terrorists ambushed a passenger train traveling between Abuja and Kaduna. They killed some passengers and abducted scores of people.

    What followed was six months of negotiations, and suspected payment of ransom. The hostages would be released in batches – with the last batch of 23 persons being freed in October.

    On June 5, 2022, a terror attack at a Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, shook the nation to its roots. Unidentified gunmen casually walked into the church and mowed down more than 30 people.

    Things were so bad that even Buhari’s home state of Katsina was not left out. Up till the 2023 polls, it was battling kidnappings, mass abductions and cattle rustling. The then president had all of eight years to address the issue; it was a measure of how much success he achieved that the problem returned to his successor’s in-box as a welcome gift.

    In the last two years some progress has been made with the government reporting thousands of terrorists and bandits killed. A couple of weeks back, Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, was crowing about the return of peace to a community that had been ripped apart by the activities of bandits in illegal mining sites, as well as the long running feud between the Hausa and Fulani.

    Contrariwise, the likes of Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, were suddenly raising the alarm about a resurgence of attacks by Boko Haram and ISWAP elements. Similar activities have been reported in some of the Islamists old stomping grounds like Adamawa and Yobe States. And, now, the old patterns of killings have resurfaced in Benue and Plateau.

    The same helplessness noticed under Buhari and his predecessors seems to have reared its head. Each cycle of slaughter sows seeds of retribution which the butchers are ever willing to water with blood – patiently overseeing its sprouting into another round of bloodshed.

    High profile visits by the leadership of security agencies haven’t stopped anything. The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, made a public show of relocating to the troubled region. This is a hackneyed manoeuvre supposed to create an impression of action, but doesn’t change much. Under Buhari, security chiefs were often ordered to relocate to theatres of conflict to little effect.

    Today, we have the egg-in-the-face situation where the Army Chief, with all the might of his office, is on the scene and right under his nose shadowy killers have pulled of one the worst incidents of slaughter in the nation’s history.

    Nigeria faces a very grave situation in the North-Central zone; one that’s been decades in the making. It shouldn’t be manipulated for advantage because members of the political elite in all parties had their chance to resolve the problem whilst in government over the last half century, but failed to do so.  

    It’s no mystery that any solution to the problem would have to deal with issues surrounding land use between farmers and herders. While the former are aggrieved that cattle casually destroy crops in which much has been invested, the latter argue that killing their animals or even the pastoralists to make up for the damage is unjust. They insist that places where these disputes have played out were grazing routes demarcated by the authorities eons ago.

    In reaction, we’ve seen government make the case for ranching as a way of weaning herders from the out-dated practice of roaming cattle across the country. It has even gone further to create a Livestock Development Ministry. While these measures could have an impact over time, there are other things that can be done in the short term – with telling effect – where there’s political will.

    One such thing is breaking the cycle of retribution. Every round of killings only leaves the victims crying for vengeance. But this unending bloodletting is not just mindless; it’s futile as it never restores what’s been lost. Local communities and leaders at all levels have to resolve to break the cycle at some point and begin the process of healing and forgiveness. Now is a good time to do so.

    Aside the herders and farmers, it’s no secret that politicians have been enablers of notorious gang leaders across the zone. The late, unlamented Gana reportedly had close ties with well-known politicians in Benue and his successors-in-crime are said to be patronised by some of the individuals now shedding crocodile tears. They can help the process of change by distancing themselves from known criminals.

    Lastly, while everyone claims to know who is responsible for some of the killings, very few have been apprehended and made to face the music. Given the gravity of crimes being committed in the North-Central zone, people need to be held to account and pay a commensurate price. Until the killers and their sponsors are brought to justice, there would be no let-up in this recurring national shame. 

  • Klinsmann urges Tinubu, Alia to take decisive actions on Benue security

    Klinsmann urges Tinubu, Alia to take decisive actions on Benue security

    As President Bola Ahmed Tinubu arrives Benue State for a high-stakes meeting with Governor Hyacinth Alia over the Yelewata massacre, renowned policy analyst and APC chieftain from Anambra State, Pharmacist Ikeagwuonwu Chinedu Klinsmann, has urged the Federal and Benue State Governments to embark on urgent, coordinated, and strategic interventions to restore peace and stability to the embattled state.

    Klinsmann described the recent Yelewata attack in Guma Local Government Area where over 100 lives were lost, as “a grim reminder that the clock has run out on half-measures and empty condolences.”

    In a statement in Abuja, he said: “Tomorrow’s meeting between the President and Governor Alia is a defining moment in the history of Benue. It must not end in photo ops and press sound bites – it must produce measurable outcomes.”

    Calling for the establishment of a legally backed Benue State Community Security Corps, Klinsmann cited the South-West’s Amotekun Corps as a viable model.

    “We need a vigilant, community-based force equipped to gather local intelligence and respond swiftly to threats. This is not theory – it worked in Ondo, Oyo, and Ekiti, and it can work in Benue,” he said.

    Citing an example from India, Klinsmann recalled that Rajasthan’s rural constabulary system empowered local recruits to manage rural crime, reducing violent incidents by over 30% between 2008 and 2015.

    “And in the case of Kenya, the Nyumba Kumi community policing program created neighborhood watch systems which, when supported by local chiefs, successfully curbed inter-ethnic violence in the Rift Valley,” noted Klinsmann.

    The APC chieftain further cited the case of South Africa’s Rural Safety Plan, which according to a 2022 report, saw to a 40% decline in farm attacks after deploying specialized rural task forces and drone surveillance. He urged the Federal Government to complement the Benue State Community Security Corps with joint military-police task forces supported by drones and satellite surveillance, while Governor Alia should operationalize community security networks capable of reporting threats in real time.

    Klinsmann also pressed for an aggressive transition from open grazing to structured, clustered ranching.

    “The President must fast-track the National Livestock Transformation Plan in Benue, while offering financial and technical support for ranch development,” he stated.

    Read Also: Yelewata killings: Senate leadership to accompany Tinubu to Benue Wednesday

    He noted that Benue’s anti-grazing law, if strictly enforced with federal support, could reduce herder-farmer clashes dramatically. Klinsmann also advised the Benue State Government to enact land use charters, reinstate firm enforcement of the grazing law, and resource monitoring teams with vehicles and equipment.

    He said according to a 2020 Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) report, Kenya’s Galana-Kulalu Model created grazing reserves with water points, reducing farmer-herder clashes by 50%. Another example was the Communal Conservancy Model of Namibia, which provided herders with defined grazing zones and communal security, reducing inter-group clashes and increasing productivity.

    Advocating for early warning systems and digital alert mechanisms, Klinsmann emphasised the Federal Government and the Benue State Government must adopt mobile apps, SMS hotlines, and community radio networks integrated into policing dashboards.

    He called for the deployment of additional tactical units, including drones and rapid-response teams, to Benue’s most vulnerable areas, such as Guma, Agatu, Otutkpo and Logo LGAs, along with the establishment of joint operations units combining military, police, and local vigilantes to enhance intelligence-sharing and responsiveness. Klinsmann referenced success stories from Colombia, Uganda, and the Philippines, stating, “A simple alert system can prevent mass death – this is low-cost, high-impact intervention.”

    He also called for the establishment of a permanent Benue Peace & Dialogue Forum, inclusive of traditional rulers, youth, women, and religious leaders.

    “This approach mirrors the successful Jos Peace Dialogue Forum in Plateau State, which significantly de-escalated violence through inclusive dialogue from 2013–2015.

    “What worked in Jos, Rwanda, South Sudan and Northern Ireland can work in Benue State. Dialogue, when institutionalized, is a potent antidote to recurring violence,” he said.

    He urged President Tinubu to fund professional mediators and trauma counselors, while Governor Alia should convene a reconciliation summit within 30 days, backed by a white paper identifying culprits and victims of the Yelewata tragedy.

    Klinsmann called for the creation of a Benue Youth Peace Corps for disarmament and reintegration of youths previously involved in violence. Drawing parallels from Sierra Leone and Colombia, he argued that “rehabilitation plus vocational training equals peace.” He stressed that idle, traumatized youths cannot be ignored in any genuine peace effort.

    Raising the critical issue of internal sabotage, Klinsmann urged President Tinubu to order a full review of military and police operations in Benue, including the replacement of underperforming commanders and probing insider threats.

    He advised Governor Alia to ensure transparency and follow through on allegations of complicity within security ranks. “Iraq’s battle against ISIS turned when insider threats were purged – Benue must learn from that,” he warned.

    On humanitarian response, Klinsmann emphasised that beyond military deployments, victims and displaced persons must receive tangible support.

    He called on the Presidency to release emergency funds through NEMA to provide food, medical aid, and psychosocial support to displaced persons in camps like the Ultra-Modern International Market in Makurdi. Klinsmann also advocated the rebuilding of destroyed schools and clinics, and commissioning of federal land-use mapping and technical support for ranch development.

    He also urged the Governor to expand shelter facilities, partner with NGOs, and introduce vocational programs for displaced persons to regain self-sufficiency.

    Quoting post-conflict successes in Rwanda and Northern Ireland, Klinsmann argued that Benue’s crisis is not insurmountable if approached with the right blend of political will, community engagement, and international best practices. “The violence in Benue is solvable. What we need is courage, strategy, and urgency,” he said.

    Reiterating his call for measurable action, Klinsmann declared: “This is not the time for ambiguity. The people of Benue are watching, bleeding, and counting on leadership. Let this visit by President Tinubu be remembered not for the speeches delivered, but for the lives saved and the peace restored.”

  • Tinubu at 2025 PPP Summit: Nigerians want infrastructure, not promises

    Tinubu at 2025 PPP Summit: Nigerians want infrastructure, not promises

    President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reaffirmed his administration’s unwavering commitment to closing Nigeria’s vast infrastructure gap through a reformed, transparent and inclusive public-private partnership (PPP) framework.

    Speaking on Tuesday at the opening of the 2025 Nigeria Public-Private Partnership Summit at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja the President declared that “what matters to the average Nigerian is not promises, but power in their homes, roads to their farms, access to clean water, modern hospitals, and quality schools.”

    President Tinubu, who was represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima at the event, said the federal government is prepared to fast-track approvals for viable infrastructure projects while ensuring ministries, departments and agencies work in close coordination for quick implementation.

    “The projects that emerge from this summit must not gather dust on paper or linger in bureaucratic limbo. We will fast-track approvals for viable projects. We will ensure coordination across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies to enable swift implementation,” the President said.

    In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communications Office of the Vice President, Stanley Nkwocha, President Tinubu stressed that real change will come not through lofty rhetoric or inflated investments, but through innovation, efficiency, and above all, integrity.

    He urged private sector leaders to look beyond perceived risks and see the immense possibilities in Nigeria’s large, dynamic, and youthful economy.

    “We are not looking for investors to carry burdens. We are offering opportunities to create value. We seek long-term partners who are ready to help us bridge our infrastructure gap with purpose and precision,” he said, noting that Nigeria’s infrastructure demands have outpaced the capacity of public funds alone.

    Highlighting the progress made since assuming office in 2023, President Tinubu pointed to key reforms including the strengthening of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), the deregulation of the petroleum downstream sector, liberalisation of the foreign exchange regime, and renewed emphasis on revenue optimisation.

    “We are streamlining bureaucratic bottlenecks and improving transparency in our project pipelines. We have aligned our processes with global best practices and investor expectations,” he added.

    He challenged summit participants to ensure the gathering results in tangible outcomes: “Let this summit be remembered not for fine speeches, but for bankable projects, signed deals, and enduring progress.”

    Earlier, Minister of Interior, Mr. Tunji Ojo, lauded the ICRC for catalysing transformational projects across various sectors, stating that Nigeria, under the Tinubu-Shettima administration, is fast reclaiming its place of pride on the global stage.

    The ICRC Director-General, Dr. Jobson Ewalefoh, described the summit as a “rallying call for transformation,” bringing together stakeholders from government, private sector, development finance institutions, and civil society to align efforts and de-risk investments.

    He said Nigeria is positioning itself not just as a participant but as a leader in the evolving global PPP space.

    “This summit brings together the finest minds from government, private investors, development partners, and civil society to co-create new frameworks, de-risk bankable projects, and strengthen our institutional alignment toward project delivery,” Ewalefoh said.

    International development partners also voiced strong support for Nigeria’s PPP reforms.

    Dahlia Khalifa, Regional Director, Central Africa and Anglophone West Africa at the International Finance Corporation (IFC), commended Nigeria’s commitment to dispute resolution and institutional reforms.

    She reaffirmed the IFC’s continued collaboration across key sectors to enhance the country’s development goals.

    Solomon Quaynor, Vice-President for Private Sector, Infrastructure & Industrialisation at the African Development Bank (AfDB), said the summit’s theme underlined that partnerships are no longer optional but essential.

    He disclosed that AfDB is already working with other partners on the Lagos-Abidjan highway corridor project, a strategic link for boosting regional integration in West Africa.

    “PPPs are complex long-term projects. They need to be designed properly and designed to survive different political administrations because, by their very nature, they are long-term,” Quaynor said.

    Also, lending support was Zitto Alfayo, Director & Global Head of Project Preparation at the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), who said Nigeria’s ongoing fiscal reforms and market liberalisation have improved the country’s attractiveness for private capital.

    Read Also: Tinubu urges Nigerians to safeguard democracy

    “With this clear demonstration of commitment from the Nigerian government, the onus is now on the private sector to drive the adoption of PPPs,” Alfayo said.

    He disclosed that Afreximbank has already disbursed over $50 million into Nigeria’s economy across sectors such as energy, manufacturing, healthcare, logistics, and financial services.

    A cross-section of political leaders and cabinet members attended the high-level summit, including Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River State; Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State; Deputy Governor Aminu Usman of Jigawa State; Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Chief Uche Nnaji; Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole; Minister of Art, Culture and the Creative Economy, Hajiya Hannatu Musawa; Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari; and Minister of Livestock Development, Alhaji Idi Mukhtar Maiha.

    The 2025 PPP Summit, convened by the ICRC, is part of a broader effort by the Tinubu administration to bridge Nigeria’s estimated $2.3 trillion infrastructure deficit by leveraging private capital, technical expertise, and innovation to deliver inclusive and sustainable development across all sectors of the economy.

  • Yelewata killings: Senate leadership to accompany Tinubu to Benue Wednesday

    Yelewata killings: Senate leadership to accompany Tinubu to Benue Wednesday

    The Senate leadership on Tuesday said it would accompany President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to Benue State today (Wednesday), to condole with the people of Yelewata village over the massacre of their kinsmen by suspected herdsmen recently.

    The Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, disclosed this yesterday while briefing journalists on the activities of the Senate in the last two years.

    Adaramodu said beyond paying condolence visits, whenever there are major attacks, the Senate had perfected strategies in collaboration with the executive to end mass killings across the country.

    He said, “About the tragic incident in Benue: it was very unfortunate. We sympathise with the victims and families affected.

    “The Senate, in collaboration with the executive, will visit Benue tomorrow (today, Wednesday) with a delegation of Senators to commiserate with the Yelewata people.

    “More importantly, we are organising a national security summit — not just for the military, but for CSOs, media, women, youth, and other critical stakeholders — because enough is enough. We cannot keep going from Plateau to Benue, paying condolence visits.

    Read Also: Afenifere hails Tinubu for kick-starting Lagos-Calabar coastal highway, other key projects

    “We are tired of mourning. The time has come to act. Security is local, and locals must be part of the solution. With Mr. President’s support, the Senate and the House of Representatives have appropriated adequate funds to support the military and security agencies.

    “Together with traditional rulers and communities, we must put a stop to this bloodshed.

    “Tomorrow’s visit to Benue will signal that the government is serious, both the legislature and the executive.

    “When we hold the national security summit, we hope to uncover hidden problems and find lasting solutions to the killings of innocent Nigerians, not just in Benue or Plateau, but across the country.”

  • ACPN urges Tinubu to end marginalisation of non-physician professionals, misuse of strikes

    ACPN urges Tinubu to end marginalisation of non-physician professionals, misuse of strikes

    The Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to urgently address what it described as the escalating misuse of strike actions and the systemic marginalisation of non-physician professionals in Nigeria’s health and education sectors.

    In an open letter titled “Call These Bluffs in National Interest”, signed by National Chairman Pharm. Ambrose Igwekamma Ezeh and National Secretary Pharm. Omokhafe Ashore, the ACPN, cited recent developments at the University of Calabar (UNICAL), where physician-lecturers reportedly went on strike over the selection of a new Vice Chancellor.

    The group also pointed to a similar situation at Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), where physicians allegedly protested the appointment of a Vice Chancellor without a medical background, even though the statutory qualification for the role is a Ph.D., not a medical degree.

    The ACPN accused physician-led unions, particularly the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN), of weaponising industrial actions to pressure the government into making decisions that favour doctors, often in violation of established rules and procedures.

    The association warned that this trend is being emboldened by the continued appointment of physicians to key ministerial positions, calling on President Tinubu to intervene in the national interest and ensure equity and professionalism across all sectors.

    “The Federal Ministry of Education, under a most inexperienced leadership, is systematically promoting a flurry of Universities of Medicine while insisting that only physicians can serve as Vice Chancellors,” the letter stated.

    The ACPN criticised what it described as a culture of blackmail among physician groups who go on strike whenever Ph.D. requirements for academic leadership positions are enforced, arguing that many physicians hold fellowships rather than academic doctorates.

    Turning to the health sector, the pharmacists lamented what they described as decades of exclusion and poor management of Federal Health Institutions (FHIs).

    They alleged that since 1985, only physicians have been appointed as Chief Medical Directors (CMDs) of FHIs based on a narrow interpretation of the term ‘medically qualified’, to the detriment of other healthcare professionals.

    “Most CMDs are part-time academics but enjoy full-time leadership roles at hospitals, an abuse of public service rules,” the group argued.

    It also referenced the 2023 law passed by the National Assembly without a public hearing, which mandates that only those registered with the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) can be appointed as MD/CEOs of Federal Medical Centres.

    The association said these policies have led to institutional failure, pointing to a recent electricity crisis in which many FHIs was left without power due to unpaid bills.

    “None of the CEOs could devise sustainable alternatives. This is why we need trained hospital administrators to manage our hospital system, as was the case before 1995,” they said.

    The community pharmacists also cited a case at the Irrua Specialist Hospital, where a senior pharmacist was allegedly punished for offering lawful advice on how drug revolving funds (DRFs) should be managed.

    The pharmacist was reassigned to a rural outpost while a less senior colleague was installed in his place.

    When the matter was escalated, the ACPN claimed, the Federal Ministry of Health sent an investigation team dominated by physicians, who unsurprisingly cleared the CEO.

    According to the ACPN, such incidents are now common across FHIs, where DRF schemes are often mismanaged, and pharmacists’ roles are deliberately undermined.

    On broader health policy issues, the pharmacists pointed to the nation’s weak primary healthcare and health insurance systems.

    They accused the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) of sidelining community pharmacists despite their global recognition during the COVID-19 immunisation drive.

    “Despite our success, the agency refused to engage us meaningfully, and the FMOH ignored our complaints,” the group said.

    Read Also: Afenifere hails Tinubu for kick-starting Lagos-Calabar coastal highway, other key projects

    The ACPN also questioned the recent approval of MEDIPOOL, a government procurement initiative for medical supplies, without proper consultation with pharmaceutical stakeholders.

    It called for the establishment of a Federal Drug Management Agency to ensure that drugs are procured and distributed efficiently, as outlined in the National Drug Distribution Guidelines of 2015.

    The ACPN warned that Nigeria’s ambition to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC) remains a mirage, as the key pillars, health insurance, primary care, and access to drugs, are sabotaged by poor policy and entrenched interests.

    “The time to act is now, you must stop the incomprehensible dominance of an overpampered group of civil servants. National growth will continue to suffer unless this imbalance is corrected,” the association urged President Tinubu.

    They further warned that continued marginalisation of health workers and academic professionals outside the medical field is discouraging the next generation from entering those professions, adding, “Nobody wants to be an underdog anymore”.

    The ACPN called for a shift in government appointments, urging the President to ensure merit-based, multidisciplinary leadership in both the education and health sectors.

  • Afenifere hails Tinubu for kick-starting Lagos-Calabar coastal highway, other key projects

    Afenifere hails Tinubu for kick-starting Lagos-Calabar coastal highway, other key projects

    The Pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, has lauded President Bola Tinubu for his administration’s commitment to delivering critical infrastructure, particularly road projects that directly impact citizens’ lives.

    Speaking to journalists at the Akure Airport on Tuesday, Afenifere’s General Secretary, Sola Ebiseni, praised the President for flagging off the first phase of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, describing it as a landmark initiative.

    Ebiseni noted that the coastal highway project would not only enhance connectivity across regions but also usher in a new era of infrastructural development for the Niger Delta and surrounding areas.

    He commended the Tinubu administration for its bold steps in actualising projects that had long been on the drawing board, saying such efforts would bring economic growth and social transformation to the people.

    “I notice some monumental initiatives, particularly in the area of road infrastructure development. Take the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, for instance.

    “We have archival records that the road was proposed around 1900 when the Ilaje coastal territory of the present Ondo State was still part of Lagos Colony. There was already a telegraphic line which connected Lagos through Ilaje to Warri along the Atlantic corridor.

    “The road was designed in alignment with the telegraphic route to link Lagos Colony with the Southern Protectorate, whose headquarters were then incidentally at Calabar,” he said.

    Mr Ebeseni recalled that an agreement to link the road was reached in 1900 when Sir William Macgregor, Governor of Lagos Colony, was on tour of the Ilaje, the eastern boundary of the colony up to around the Benin River in Warri Division.

    “The document was later signed on the 12th January 1904 between Sir William Macgregor, Governor of Lagos Colony, and Sir Wyndham Roseberry of Southern Protectorate.

    “President Tinubu has taken such a bold step in launching this historic road project which, if faithfully implemented, would be the most monumental, particularly in the Niger Delta.”

    Read Also: Afenifere hails Tinubu over Southwest Development Commission

    He charged President Tinubu to allow the road project to follow the coastline of Ilaje in Ondo State, aside from the coastal route of Lagos.

    Fielding questions on the division rocking the group, Mr Ebeseni said the two factions of the late Ayo Adebanjo and Pa Reuben Fasoranti have what it takes to come together in unionism.

    According to him, Afenifere is a welfarist socio-political organisation with an ideological stance that has been maintained since 1951 with an unambiguous position on national issues.

    “At critical times in our national life in the Action Group, UPN, SDP/NADECO, AD, AD/APP and presently, there have been contests on ideological ground which have always been resolved according to Awolowo on the interplay of thesis and antithesis.

    “The current disagreement is not so deep in my view. It is between strict adherence to its historical socio-political character of Awolowo’s political world view and the new romance with being a Yoruba socio-cultural organisation of all-comers.

    “No viable organisation, including political parties, is spared the bug of centrifugal forces today in our country. The new leader has what it takes to navigate the mines and bring all together.”

  • Tinubu urges Nigerians to safeguard democracy

    Tinubu urges Nigerians to safeguard democracy

    …flags off new INEC headquarters in Abuja

    …as Wike assures quality delivery of INEC’s new headquarters

    President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Tuesday flagged off the construction of a new headquarters for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja, calling on all Nigerians to actively support efforts to strengthen national institutions, safeguard democratic freedoms, and protect the future of the country.

    Addressing dignitaries at the flag-off ceremony, the President emphasised that democracy in Nigeria is not a finished product but a continuous journey that requires collective commitment and vigilance.

    Meanwhile, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has assured the President of the speedy completion of the new Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters.

    Speaking at the ceremony, President Tinubu said, “To all Nigerians, I say this democracy is not a destination but a journey. Together let us strengthen our institutions, safeguard our freedom and protect the future”.

    The President described the groundbreaking of the new INEC headquarters as more than a symbolic event, stressing that the structure represents Nigeria’s dedication to credible elections and institutional independence.

    “Today’s ceremony is not merely about bricks and mortar, it is about the strength of our democracy, the independence of our institutions, and the future of our electoral integrity,” he stated.

    He praised INEC for its central role in advancing Nigeria’s democratic journey, describing it as “the backbone of Nigeria’s democratic process.”

    According to him, a structure that reflects the dignity and responsibility of the Commission is necessary for enhancing public confidence in the electoral system.

    “Its role in conducting free, fair and credible elections is central to the trust our people place in their government, and in our democratic process. It is only right that such a pivotal institution is housed in a structure that reflects the dignity, responsibility and national significance of that institution”, the President said.

    The new annexe of the INEC headquarters, he said, will serve not just as an office complex, but as a hub for electoral planning, training, innovation, and transparency.

    “Our democracy is still evolving, and as it is growing, so too must the institution that supports and protects it. We are committed to ensuring that INEC is fully equipped, not only in infrastructure, but in law, policy and resources to carry out its constitutional mandate with courage, fairness and excellence”, Tinubu noted.

    Commending Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barrister Nyesom Wike, for spearheading the initiative, Tinubu said the move further demonstrates the administration’s resolve to protect and enhance Nigeria’s democratic institutions.

    “By initiating this project, the FCT Minister, Barrister Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, has taken another important step toward the protection of our democracy in this country. I salute your vision, courage and commitment to the progress and development of our country”, he said.

    He also extended appreciation to the leadership and staff of INEC for their enduring commitment to institutional growth and electoral credibility.

    “Let me once again commend the leadership and the staff of INEC for their dedication to face the challenge that is necessary and the courage to lay a stronger foundation for our democracy,” Tinubu said.

    To contractors and stakeholders involved in the construction, the President issued a stern reminder about the significance of the project, urging them to prioritize quality and integrity.

    “To the contractors, supervisors and stakeholders involved in this project, let quality, speed, integrity, and transparency guide your work. You are not just building an edifice, you are building trust in our nation,” he declared.

    Also speaking, the Minister of the FCT, Wike said “Mr. President, let me, on behalf of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, most sincerely thank you again for giving us an opportunity to flag off this very important project, as explained by the ES of FCDA and the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission.

    “Your Excellency, let me correct an impression that was given by the Executive Secretary that this was awarded by FCT, no, this was awarded by the Federal Executive Council in March 2025. So it was not awarded by the FCT, it was awarded by the Federal Executive Council which has to be supervised by the FCT through the Federal Capital Development Authority.

    “Your Excellency, recollect that the Federal Executive Council had approved the renovation and construction of public buildings. One of those buildings for renovation is just the one we commissioned, the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre, the renovation of the two chambers of the National Assembly, the construction of the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal, and the construction of 40 houses for the Court of Appeal, the Federal High Court, and the FCT High Court.

    “This was under your directive to reduce the shortage of accommodation, and I thank the Chairman for explaining and for letting the world know that it is through the FCDA that public buildings are renovated or built. And he has stated here, this is not the first time that when INEC Headquarters was relocated to Abuja, it was FCDA.

    “It is good that he says that because so many people will go and begin to say all kinds of things. So it’s good that he explained that. I want to assure you that this structure will be given all the time it is required to see that during your first tenure, this project is completed, that you can be assured that we’ll do that, and with the kind of support you’ve given to us, we’ll make sure that the contractor delivers. I don’t know where he comes from, but by the time he finishes, he’ll be back, because I’ve made sure that he stays under the sun, under the rain, and justifies the money that we are paying”.

    INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu said for a long time, the Commission has been grappling with inadequate office accommodation.

    Our present national headquarters, Yakubu said, is severely congested.

    Commissioned in December 1997, Yakubu said it was originally planned to cater for eight Commission members (a chairman and seven full-time National Commissioners), ten Departments/Directorates and 500 staff.

    He said, “Since then, the activities of the Commission have become more extensive and the staff strength at the headquarters has more than doubled. Today, there are 13 full-time Commission members (a chairman and 12 National Commissioners), 22 Departments/Directorates and 1,048 staff. Consequently, every facility is overstretched from offices to meeting rooms for the Commission’s 15 standing Committees and other activities, including regular engagements with stakeholders. General staff meetings always take place outside the Commission. In response, the Commission was compelled to rent two buildings in Wuse Zone II to ease the situation.

    “Over the last ten years, we made every effort to alleviate the situation until sometime last year when the Ministry of the Federal Capital Territory came to the rescue. I wish to make it clear that this is not the first time that the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) has constructed an office for the Electoral Commission. When the Commission relocated its headquarters from Lagos to Abuja in 1991, it was the FCDA that provided it with offices in Garki to accommodate the national headquarters as well as the FCT office. When the facility became overstretched, the FCDA again built our present headquarters. The building in Garki now operates exclusively as our FCT Office. In fact, today’s groundbreaking event is the third time in the last 34 years that the FCDA, in the discharge of its responsibilities, is stepping in to either provide office accommodation or alleviate the Commission’s space constraint.

    “As the end user of the facility, our technical department submitted the concept of the proposed building, which is what the FCT is currently executing. We made provision for offices, meeting rooms, conference rooms, a 1,000-seat auditorium and offices for some of our IT-based facilities Mr. President, let me, on behalf of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, most sincerely thank you again for giving us an opportunity to flag off this very important project, as explained by the ES of FCDA and the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission.

    “Your Excellency, let me correct an impression that was given by the Executive Secretary that this was awarded by FCT, no, this was awarded by the Federal Executive Council in March 2025. So, it was not awarded by the FCT; it was awarded by the Federal Executive Council, which has to be supervised by the FCT through the Federal Capital Development Authority.

    “Your Excellency, recollect that the Federal Executive Council had approved the renovation and construction of public buildings. One of those buildings for renovation is just the one we commissioned, the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre, the renovation of the two chambers of the National Assembly, the construction of the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal, and the construction of 40 houses for the Court of Appeal, the Federal High Court, and the FCT High Court.

    “This was under your directive to reduce the shortage of accommodation, and I thank the Chairman for explaining and for letting the world know that it is through the FCDA that public buildings are renovated or built. And he has stated here, this is not the first time that when INEC Headquarters was relocated to Abuja, it was FCDA. It is good that he says that because so many people will go and begin to say all kinds of things. So it’s good that he explained that”.

    He assured that the structure will be given all the time it is required to see that during: “your first tenure, this project is completed, that you can be assured that we’ll do that, and with the kind of support you’ve given to us, we’ll make sure that the contractor delivers. I don’t know where he comes from, but by the time he finishes, he’ll be back, because I’ve made sure that he stays under the sun, under the rain, and justifies the money that we are paying.

    Read Also: Tinubu/Shettima 2027: APC Northwest group endorses continuation of joint ticket

    “Mr. President, I will invite you to talk to us and then lay the foundation of this very important project to the glory of God. Such as the Election Monitoring and Support Centre (EMSC). Beyond these facilities, the building plan has provision for a museum to serve as a repository for the physical and digital history of elections and electoral activities in Nigeria. This will afford citizens, particularly students who regularly visit the Commission on excursion, the opportunity to appreciate the evolution of our electoral history, as is the case in many jurisdictions around the world.

    “The main building opposite the present site shall remain the National Headquarters of the Commission. When completed, the new building will complement the main building. For me personally, this is a special occasion. After almost ten years of persistent effort, the construction of the INEC Annex Building is finally a reality.

    “At this point, all that remains for me, on behalf of the Commissioners and staff of the Commission, is to thank Your Excellency, Mr. President, for making it happen and for your personal presence. I would also like to appreciate the presence of the Senate President, the Rt. Hon. Speaker of the House of Representatives.

    “We are similarly appreciative of the Honourable Minister of the FCT for his diligent pursuit of the project as well as the leadership of the Joint Committee on Electoral Matters in the National Assembly, leaders of political parties and all stakeholders for their presence and support.”

  • Tinubu’s visit: Benue declares Wednesday work-free day

    Tinubu’s visit: Benue declares Wednesday work-free day

    The Benue Government has declared Wednesday, June 18, a work-free day.

    The declaration was announced in a statement by Mrs Deborah Aber, Secretary to the State Government on Tuesday in Makurdi.

    “This is in honour of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,  who is scheduled for a one-day visit to the state.

    “The visit is to commiserate with the government and people of the state over incessant security challenges.

    Read Also: Renewed herdsmen attacks: Benue Assembly urges Alia to fully enforce anti-open grazing law

    “Note, however, that those engaged in essential services like health workers, security agencies and banks are exempted from this holiday,” she said.

    Aber urged Benue residents to come out en masse to receive the President and his entourage.

    (NAN)